OPINION (BIN) – One of the most influential rabbis of the last century gave a prophecy in his final days: a third war, greater than any other before it will come 75 years after the end of World War II. The deadline for that prediction is only a few months away.
Rabbi Yisrael Meir (HaKohen) Kagan was one of the most influential rabbis of the early 20th Century. He authored a book on the laws pertaining to slander and gossip, after which he was popularly known as the Chofetz Chaim (desires life) from the verse in Psalms.
“Who is the man who is eager for life, who desires years of good fortune? Guard your tongue against evil, your lips from deceitful speech.” Psalms 34:14
By all accounts, he was a modest and humble man who struggled to feed his family. Though he could not accept the anti-religious aspects of secular Zionism, he planned on moving to Israel, which was still a neglected part of the Ottoman Empire, but his followers persuaded him to remain in Poland.
During his lifetime, he was venerated by Jews and non-Jews alike. Orthodox Jews across the world viewed him as one of the 36 hidden righteous people and Polish farmers were said to have lured him into their fields believing his feet would bring blessing to their crops.
Known for his writings on halacha (Torah law) and ethics, he was also a firm believer in the Messianic process. It is said that the Chofetz Chaim had a bag packed and at the ready, at all times in case the Moshiach was suddenly to arrive. READ MORE
